
4 Contents
ENGINE FAN  ...............................239
COOLANT (coolant level)  ..........240
COOLANT TEMP. 
(coolant temperature)  ................ 241
LIGHTING SYSTEM  ....................242
LIGHT SENSOR ...........................243
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST.  ...........243
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ...................244
ELEC. STABIL. PROG. 
(Electronic stability 
program)  ......................................245
REMOVE KEY  .............................245
WASHER FLUID ..........................246
TELE AID  .....................................247
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  .....................................250
Shelf below rear window  ..............250
Stowing things in 
the vehicle  ..................................250
Luggage cover .................................250
Fuses  ................................................252
Hood  .................................................254
Checking engine oil level  .............256Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ................................... 257
Coolant level ................................... 257
Adding coolant  ........................... 258
Windshield washer / headlamp 
cleaning system  ........................ 259
Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  ........ 259
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment  ............... 260
Vehicle jack  .................................... 261
Wheels  ............................................ 262
Tire replacement  ....................... 262
Rotating wheels  ......................... 263
Spare wheel .................................... 264
Changing wheels  ........................... 266
Tire inflation pressure  ..................271
Battery ............................................. 272
Jump starting  ..................................274
Towing the vehicle  .........................276
Exterior lamps  ............................... 280
Headlamp assembly  .................. 281
Taillamp assemblies  .................. 283
Adjusting headlamp aim  .............. 285Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................288
Synchronizing remote 
control  .........................................290
Raising soft top manually ............. 291
Antenna  ...........................................298
Manual release for 
fuel filler flap .............................299
Replacing wiper blade insert  .......299
Vehicle careCleaning and care 
of the vehicle  .............................302
Power washer ..............................303
Paintwork, painted body 
components  .................................303
Engine cleaning ..........................304
Tar stains  .....................................304
Vehicle washing  .........................304
Ornamental moldings ................304
Headlamps, taillamps, 
turn signal lenses  ......................305
Window cleaning  .......................305
Plastic and rubber parts ............305
J_A208.book Seite 4 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

188 Tele Aid
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Tele Aid system could not initiate an Information call 
(e.g. the relevant cellular phone network is not 
available). The message “INFO – CALL FAILED” appears 
in the multifunction display.
Information calls can be terminated using the 
ìbutton on the multifunction steering wheel.
Important!
If the indicator lamps do not start flashing after 
pressing one of the buttons or remain illuminated (in 
red) at any time, the Tele Aid system has detected a fault 
or the service is not currently active, and may not 
initiate a call. Visit your Mercedes-Benz Center and 
have the system checked or contact the Response Center 
at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or 1-888-923-8367 (in 
Canada) as soon as possible.Upgrade Signals
Tele Aid system processes calls using the following 
priority.
•Automatic emergency – First priority
•Manual emergency – Second priority
•Roadside assistance – Third priority
•Information – Fourth priority
Should a higher priority call be initiated while you are 
connected, an upgrade (alternating) tone will be heard, 
and the appropriate indicator lamp will flash. If certain 
information such as vehicle identification number or 
customer information is not available, the operator may 
need to retransmit. During this time you will hear a 
chirp and voice contact will be interrupted. Voice 
contact will resume once the retransmission is 
completed. Once a call is concluded, a chirp will be 
heard and the appropriate indicator lamp will stop 
flashing. The COMAND system operation will resume 
(only vehicles with COMAND).
J_A208.book Seite 188 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

198 Automatic transmission
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Selector lever position
The current selector lever position is indicated in the 
gear range indicator display. The automatic gear 
shifting process can be adapted to specific operating 
conditions using the selector lever.Park position
The park position is to be used when parking the 
vehicle. Engage only with the vehicle stopped. 
The park position is not intended to serve as a 
brake when the vehicle is parked. Rather, the 
driver should always use the parking brake in 
addition to placing the selector lever in park to 
secure the vehicle. 
Note:
The electronic key can only be removed from the 
steering lock with the selector lever in 
position “P”. With the electronic key removed, the 
selector lever is locked in position “P”.
With a malfunction in the vehicle’s electrical 
system the selector lever could remain locked in 
position “P”. To unlock the selector lever 
manually, see page 279.
Reverse gear
Shift to reverse gear only with the vehicle 
stopped.
10
J_A208.book Seite 198 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

249 Contents – Practical hints
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Practical hintsFirst aid kit  .....................................250
Shelf below rear window  ..............250
Stowing things in 
the vehicle  ..................................250
Luggage cover .................................250
Fuses  ................................................252
Hood  .................................................254
Checking engine oil level  .............256
Automatic transmission 
fluid level  ...................................257
Coolant level  ...................................257
Adding coolant  ...........................258Windshield washer / headlamp 
cleaning system  ........................ 259
Windshield and headlamp 
washer fluid mixing ratio  ........ 259
Spare wheel, vehicle tools, 
storage compartment  ............... 260
Vehicle jack  .................................... 261
Wheels  ............................................ 262
Tire replacement  ....................... 262
Rotating wheels  ......................... 263
Spare wheel .................................... 264
Changing wheels  ........................... 266
Tire inflation pressure  ..................271
Battery ............................................. 272Jump starting  .................................. 274
Towing the vehicle ......................... 276
Exterior lamps  ................................280
Headlamp assembly ................... 281
Taillamp assemblies  ..................283
Adjusting headlamp aim ...............285
Changing batteries in 
the electronic key  .....................288
Synchronizing remote 
control  .........................................290
Raising soft top manually ............. 291
Antenna  ...........................................298
Manual release for 
fuel filler flap .............................299
Replacing wiper blade insert  .......299
J_A208.book Seite 249 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

279 Towing
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Transmission selector lever, manually unlocking
In the case of power failure the transmission selector 
lever can be manually unlocked, e.g. to tow the vehicle.To do so, insert a pin (1), e.g. ball point pen, into the 
covered opening below the position “D” of the shift 
pattern. While pushing the pin down, move selector 
lever from position “P”.
After removal of the pin from the opening, the cover will 
not close fully. Only after moving the selector lever to 
positions “D+” and “D–” does the cover return to its 
closed position.
J_A208.book Seite 279 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

327 Index
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex Defrosting ................................................................... 123
Display and controls  ................................................. 122
Dust filter  ................................................................... 126
Economy  ..................................................................... 123
Rear window defroster  ............................................. 124
Residual engine heat utilization (REST)  ............... 125
Special settings  ......................................................... 123
Automatic transmission  ............................................... 195
Emergency operation  ...............................................203
Fluid level ...................................................................257
Program mode selector switch  ............................... 202
Selector lever position .............................................. 198
Transmission selector lever, 
manually unlocking ............................................. 279
BBabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system ..................... 64
Self-test  ......................................................................... 65
Backrest, front seat .......................................................... 54
BAS (Brake assist system)  ............................................ 216
Malfunction indicator lamp ..................................... 231
Battery  .............................................................................272
Battery recycling  ....................................................... 273BATTERY/ALTERNATOR - 
malfunction and warning messages  ..................... 236
Block heater  .................................................................... 213
BRAKE ASSIST - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 237
Brake assist system (BAS)  ............................................ 216
Malfunction indicator lamp  ..................................... 231
Brake fluid  .................................................... 229, 318, 320
Capacity  ...................................................................... 318
BRAKE FLUID - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 238
BRAKE LINING WEAR - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 238
Brake pad wear .............................................................. 238
Brake warning lamp  ..................................................... 229
Brake fluid low  ......................................................... 229
Brakes  ................................................... 204, 206, 216, 220
Bulbs
See Replacing bulbs ................................................. 280
CCapacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.  ............................... 318
Cargo tie-down rings  ..................................................... 156
Catalytic converter  ......................................................... 180
J_A208.book Seite 327 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

332 Index
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Replacing bulbs ......................................................... 280
Side marker lamp, front  ........................................... 284
Standing lamps ..................................................114, 282
Taillamp assemblies  ......................................... 114, 283
Turn signal lamps  ............................................. 117, 282
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ............................................ 312
LIGHT SENSOR - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 243
Lighter  ............................................................................. 155
LIGHTING SYSTEM - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 242
Limp home mode (Automatic transmission)  ............. 203
Locking and unlocking  ................................................... 29
Low beams
See Exterior lamps ....................................................280
Low engine coolant level warning  .............................. 240
Luggage cover .................................................................250
MMaintenance  ................................................................... 179
Malfunction and indicator lamps 
in the instrument cluster  .........................................228
Malfunction and warning messages ...........................234
ABS-SYSTEM  ............................................................. 237
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR .......................................... 236BRAKE ASSIST  ......................................................... 237
BRAKE FLUID  ........................................................... 238
BRAKE LINING WEAR  ............................................ 238
COOLANT (coolant level)  ........................................ 240
COOLANT TEMP. (coolant temperature)  ............... 241
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(engine control unit) ........................................... 235
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(several systems)  ................................................. 235
ELEC. STABIL. PROG.  .............................................. 245
ENGINE FAN  ............................................................. 239
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ................................................. 244
LIGHT SENSOR ......................................................... 243
LIGHTING SYSTEM  .................................................. 242
PARKING BRAKE  ..................................................... 239
REMOVE KEY  ........................................................... 245
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST.  ......................................... 243
TELE AID  ................................................................... 247
WASHER FLUID ........................................................ 246
Malfunction/warning message memory  .................... 104
Manual operation of soft top  ........................................ 291
Mechanical keys  ........................................................ 25, 32
Memory
Recalling  ................................................................ 49, 80
Storing ...........................................................................48
Mirror, exterior, adjusting  .............................................. 79
J_A208.book Seite 332 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09 

336 Index
Technical
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
TELE AID - malfunction 
and warning messages  ............................................ 247
Telephone  .......................................................................... 96
General notes ............................................................. 157
Incoming call  ............................................................. 100
Redialing  ...................................................................... 98
Telephone book  ........................................................... 96
Telephones and two-way radios ................................... 178
Telescoping steering column
Adjusting  ...................................................................... 77
Indicator lamp  ...........................................................232
Telescoping steering column - 
malfunction and warning messages  ......................243
The first 1 000 miles  ..................................................... 179
Tire inflation pressure  .................................................. 271
Tire speed rating ............................................................ 210
Tire traction  .................................................................... 210
Tires  ................................................................................. 324
Driving instructions  ................................................. 208
Rims and tires  ........................................................... 314
Rotating wheels ......................................................... 263
Tire inflation pressure  ............................................. 271
Tire replacement  ....................................................... 262
Winter driving instructions  .................................... 211
Tool kit
See Vehicle tools  ....................................................... 260Tow-away alarm  ................................................................44
Towing the vehicle  ......................................................... 276
Transmission  .................................................................. 195
Transmission selector lever, 
manually unlocking  ................................................. 279
Traveling abroad  ............................................................ 213
Trip and main odometer and sub menu  ....................... 92
Trip computer  ................................................................. 102
Trip odometer  ................................................................... 87
Trunk  .................................................................................37
Opening  ........................................................................ 30
Release switch  ............................................................. 40
Separately locked  ........................................................37
Trunk lamp  ....................................................................... 39
Trunk lid
Emergency release  ................................................ 41, 42
Release switch  ............................................................. 40
Turn signal failure  ......................................................... 117
Turn signals  .................................................................... 117
VVanity mirrors  ................................................................ 150
Vehicle jack  ..................................................................... 261
Vehicle tools  ................................................................... 260
J_A208.book Seite 336 Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001 9:35 09